New PIF TICK public website helps you find trusted health info

New PIF TICK quality mark website helps people find trusted health information

PIF

July 5, 2021

A new website to help people find trusted health information has launched today.

The PIF TICK public website launch coincides with the start of Health Information Week 2021.

It allows you to see which organisations have the PIF TICK and offers advice on finding trusted health information.

The PIF TICK is the UK quality mark for health information.

It launched in May 2020 to replace the discontinued Information Standard.

The scheme is run by the non-profit Patient Information Forum (PIF).

PIF TICK members include Macmillan Cancer Support, Bupa UK, Mind and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

There are more than 40 accredited members. We are currently assessing a further 30 members.

Accurate, accessible, evidence-based information

PIF chair Sue Farrington said: “Our consumer research shows people want to see a quality mark on health information.

“That is why we started the PIF TICK and that is why we are launching the public website today to make it easier for people to find information they can trust.

“Accurate, accessible, evidence-based information is key to increasing patient empowerment and improving health outcomes.”

To gain the PIF TICK members must show they meet 10 key steps. These include:

Involving users in developing health information
Making sure information is evidence based
Making sure information is easy to use and understand

Patient advocate Trishna Bharadia said: “For me it’s important to have a quality mark like the PIF TICK because there is so much misinformation and fake information out there.

“A quality mark can help to identify information as being trustworthy, reliable and evidence based.

“Having this information available is crucial for being able to make the right decisions about my healthcare. Having a PIF TICK quality mark would increase my confidence in the information that I’m using.”

Health information you can rely on

Tom Bishop, Senior Patient Services and Information Manager at Anthony Nolan said: “There’s so much dubious information out there that we wanted to make it clear that Anthony Nolan’s patient information could be relied upon.

“The PIF TICK gives patients the reassurance they need at a time when they might be feeling bombarded or overwhelmed by health information.”

Dr Knut Schroeder, GP and founder of Expert Self Care, said: “The PIF TICK is really important because information providers need to be able to demonstrate their products are reliable and accurate.

“Information producers also need to know what good information looks like and how to keep the information they provide up to date. The PIF TICK achieves all of this.

“It’s a great scheme for reassuring service providers as well as patients and members of the public that information is clear, accurate and reliable.”

Graham Pembrey, Head of Health Content, UK Clinical, Bupa UK said: “The PIF TICK is such an important way for anyone who needs information about their health to know instantly on seeing that logo that what they’re reading can be trusted.

“That health information might help to make a decision about a treatment they’re considering, or to see a GP about a symptom, or it might help them on an emotional level to understand more about a condition.”